Support construction for signs

ABSTRACT

A STREET SIGN SUPPORT IS OF THE BREAK-AWAY TYPE AND INCLUDES A FIRST POST DRIVEN COMPLETELY INTO THE GROUND, A SECOND POST BOLTED TO SAID FIRST POST AND EXTENDING ABOVE THE GROUND, AND A THIRD, SIGN-SUPPORTING POST EXTENDING DOWN OVER THE SECOND POST TO A POINT NEAR THE GROUND AND CARRYING A STREET SIGN ASSEMBLY AT THE TOP. THE THIRD POST HAS NOTCHES IN THE LOWER END THEREOF FITTING OVER FLANGES OF THE FIRST POST TO PREVENT RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN THE THIRD AND FIRST POSTS. THE THIRD POST AND THE SECOND ARE CONNECTED BY MEANS OF WASHERS WHICH BITE INTO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE SECOND POST AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE THIRD WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO SEPARATE THESE TWO POSTS.

Sept. 20, 1971 E. J. HOWARD SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION FOR SIGNS Filed April28, 1969 IErZJ INVENTOR: EDWARD J HUI/YARD.

ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,606,222 SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION FOR SIGNS Edward J.Howard, 4244 River Road, Toledo, Ohio 43614 Filed Apr. 28, 1969, Ser.No. 819,636 Int. Cl. F16m 13/00; E04h 12/22 US. Cl. 248156 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A street sign support is of the break-awaytype and includes a first post driven completely into the ground, asecond post bolted to said first post and extending above the ground,and a third, sign-supporting post extending down over the second post toa point near the ground and carrying a street sign assembly at the top.The third post has notches in the lower end thereof fitting over flangesof the first post to prevent relative rotation between the third andfirst posts. The third post and the second are connected by means ofWashers which bite into the outer surface of the second post and theinner surface of the third when an attempt is made to separate these twoposts.

This invention relates to a sign support and particularly to a streetsign support of the break-away type.

Street sign supports, particularly as used in residential neighborhoods,are commonly made of conventional two or two-and-onehalf inch galvanizedmetal pipe. Such pipe is commercially available in twenty-one footlengths which are cut in two equal lengths to provide two street signsupporting posts ten-and-one-half feet in length. The lower ends of theposts are driven about two feet into the ground, leaving a length ofpost of only about eight feet or so above the ground, which does notplace the street signs as high as is usually desirable from thestandpoint of visibility and particularly vandalism. The street signposts are often set in concrete in which instance a shorter length ofthe post can be buried but this requires considerable more labor by theinstallation crew and requires at least two trips to the location toproperly set the post.

The instant invention provides an improved street sign support whichovercomes the above disadvantages and achieves several additionaladvantages. The new street sign support includes a first sign posthaving a flanged, U-shaped cross section with a length of about twofeet, which is driven completely into the ground. A second post, in theform of a one-inch pipe roughly a foot in length, has a lower endreceived in the U-shaped portion of the first post and is bolted to thefirst post with about a six-inch length extending above the ground. Athird, main post, in the form of a two or two-and-one-half inch pipe, isplaced over the second post with the lower end extending down preferablyto or slightly below the surface of the ground. The lower end of thethird post is notched to receive the flanged portions of the first postto prevent rotation of the third post. The usual street sign assembly isthen carried at the top of the third post.

The third post preferably is connected to the second post by a series ofspaced washers, the inner diameters of which approximate the outerdiameter of the second post with the outer diameters of the washersapproximating the inner diameter of the third post. These washers arespaced apart and temporarily held on the second post prior to assemblywith the third post. After the third and second posts are assembled, thewashers will bite into both posts to prevent removal of the third postwithout the use of any external connection or fastener.

With this construction, the third or main post can extend substantiallyits entire ten-and-one-half foot length 3,606,222 Patented Sept. 20,1971 above the ground thereby to support the street sign assembly at amore desirable height. With the first flanged post driven into theground completely, a stable, non-rotatable support is provided whichdoes not require any special concrete installation. In addition, if thesign support is struck by a vehicle, the support will yield at theground usually by bending or breaking of the first or second post withthe third, main post then usually being re-usable.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide astreet sign structure having the features and advantages discussedabove.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a street sign structure embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in vertical cross section takenalong the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but taken through a plane to theplane in which FIG. 2 is taken;

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse cross section taken along the line 44 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a bottom edge of asignpost of the sign supporting structure; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of a washer embodied in the sign supportingstructure.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a street sign structure embodying theinvention is indicated at 10 and includes a street sign assembly 12 anda street sign support 14. The street sign support 14 includes a firstpost or elongate member 16 which preferably is driven completely intothe ground. This post, which is preferably about two feet long, includesa U-shaped portion 18 having diverging legs 20 and a web 22, withflanges 24 extending outwardly in a common plane from the ends of thelegs 20. The post 16 preferably is of a commercially available design,commonly used as stop sign posts and the like.

A second post or elongate member 26 preferably is of circular crosssection and of a size to substantially fit within the U-shaped portion18 of the post 16. The post 26 can be a ten-inch length of one inchdiameter galvanized pipe with about six inches of the length extendingupwardly above the upper end of the first post 16 and above the ground.The pipe 26 has suitably spaced openings 28 drilled therein to matchopenings 30 formed in the web 22 of the post 16, the openings 30 usuallybeing formed along the entire length of the web. Only two of theopenings 30 near the upper end of the post are used, however. The secondpost 26 is then afiixed to the first post by a suitable fasteningarrangement such as a pair of bolts 32 which extend through the openings30 and 28 arid receive washers 34 and nuts 36 on the opposite side ofthe post 26.

A third, main supporting post or hollow member 38 is then placed overthe upper, exposed end of the second post 26. The lower end of the post38 has a pair of notches 40 therein which are received on the flanges 24of the first post 16. This provides positive mechanical cooperationbetween the first and third posts and prevents rotation or turning ofthe third post 38 relative to the first post 16 and the ground. In theassembled position, the lower end of the third post 38 is below thelevel of the ground and gives the appearance of being a post ofconventional construction with the lower end simply driven into theground 0s set in concrete.

The third post 38 is connected to the second post 26 by suitable means,preferably by annular or ring-like members or washers 42, 44, and 46-.The washer 42 is ice also shown in FIG. 6. Each washer includes acircular inner edge 48 which fits closely with the outer diameter of thesecond post 26. The washer has an outer generally circular but actuallyoval edge '50 the minimum diameter of which is substantially equal tothe inner diameter of the main post 38, with the major dimension or axisthereof slightly exceeding the inner diameter of the post 38.

The washers 42, 44, and 46 are spaced apart equl distances on the secondpost 26 with the lowest washer 46 being slightly above the upper end ofthe first post 16 and with the upper washer 42 being about one inchbelow the upper end of the second post 26. Each of the three washers isheld temporarily, in place on the second post 26 by an upper ring 52 anda lower ring 541 of resilient material. The major axis of each of thewashers is located at a 90 angle to the major axis or axes of theadjacent washer or washers.

With the washers temporarily held on the post 26 by the rings 52 and 54,they are at a slight angle, being cocked about the minor axis slightly,so as to fit into the post 38 when it is inserted over the post 26. Whenthe post 38 is in place with the notches 40 over the flanges 24 of thefirst post 26, if an attempt is made to remove the post 38, the washerswill bite into the inner surface of the post 38 and tend to distort,also biting into the outer surface of the second post 26, therebyeffectively and fully preventing the removal of the post 38. If desired,the lower end portionof the post 38 can be tjarred or tapped after it isin position to cause the washers to settle slightly and engage theadjacent surfaces of the posts 26 and 38 more fully.

Rather than the slightly oval-shaped washers 42, 44, and 46, concavewashers can be employed having their concave surfaces facing downwardlyso that the outer post 38 can be slipped over them when temporarilyretained on the inner post but with the washer edges biting into theinner surface of the post 38 if an attempt is made to remove it.

The street sign assembly 12 can be of any particular design and doesnot, in detail, constitute part of the instant invention. As shown, itincludes two sign plates 56 and 58 held together by a pin 60 whichextends into an end cap 62 on the upper end of the post 38.

It will be seen from the above description that the sign constructionaccording to the invention has many advantages over those heretoforeknown. Since the main post 38 does not extend into the ground, the fullheight of ten-andone-half feet is effective to place the sign assembly12 that distance above the ground. Further, it is virtually impossibleto turn the post 38 and thereby change the orientation of the streetsign plates 56 and 58. The street sign support 14 also is easy toinstall by driving the post 16 into the ground without any special toolsor excavation being required. It is also much easier to drive the post16 into the ground than the overall post 38 with its upper end spacedhigh above the surface. In the event the sign support 14 is struck by avehicle, the support will break near the ground, usually in the secondpost 26, with little or no damage to the main post 38.

Various modifications of the above described embodiments of theinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to beunderstood that such modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention, the above embodiment being primarily forpurposes of illustration and not limitation.

I claim: a

1. A sign supporting structure comprising a first member to be at leastpartially embedded in the ground, a second member which is circular intransverse cross section affixed to said first member and adapted toextend above the ground, a hollow member which is circular in transverse cross section and larger in diameter than said second member toreceive said second member, means connecting said hollow member and saidsecond member to prevent separation thereof and to prevent any upwardmovement of said hollow member relative to said second member, saidconnecting means comprising at least two ring-like members, each havingan inner edge similarin size and shape to the outer surface of saidsecond member and having an outer edge substantially similar in size andshape to the internal surface of said hollow member, whereby each ofsaid ring-like members is caused to bind said hollow member and saidsecond member when said hollow member is urged upwardly away from thesaid second member and, means to hold said ring-like members invertically-spaced relationship on said second member, at least prior tothe assembly of said second member and said hollow member, and saidhollow member having means engageable with said first member to preventrotation of said hollow member relative to said first member.

2. A sign supporting structure comprising an elongate first memberhaving a portion which is generally U- shaped in transverse crosssection with side flanges extending outwardly therefrom, the U-shapedportion of said member having an opening therein, a second member havinga transverse circular cross section afiixed to said first member, saidsecond member being of a size to at least partially fit within theU-shaped portion of said first member, fastener means afiixed to saidsecond member and extending through said opening of said first member, ahollow post member having a circular transverse cross section largerthan said second member and received over said second member, the loweredge of said hollow member having notches to receive the flanges of saidfirst member, thereby to prevent rotation between said first member andsaid hollow member, and means connecting said hollow member and saidsecond member to prevent separation of said hollow member and saidsecond memher.

3. A sign supporting structure according to claim 2 characterized bysaid U-shaped portion having a plurality of additional openings spacedlongitudinally therealong.

4. A sign supporting structure according to claim 1 characterizedfurther by said first member having a portion which is generallyU-shaped in transverse cross section with side flanges extendingoutwardly therefrom, said second member being of a size to be at leastpartially fit within the U-shaped portion of said first member, saidengageable means of said hollow member comprising notches on the loweredge of said hollow member to receive the flanges of said first member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 367,848 '8/1887 Robards 52-165383,815 5/1888 Kil'born 248414 862,928 8 1907 Myers 52-165 2,580,948 1/1952 Pancake 248-156 FOREIGN PATENTS 52,610 3/ 1911 Switzerland 52-1-65EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

